The Palace Museum, the top tourist attraction of the Chinese capital, is enlarging its space for public viewing. In five years' time, all the administrative offices will move out of the complex, and the museum will open more of the area to tourists.

The Palace Museum, the top tourist attraction of the Chinese capital, is enlarging its space for public viewing.

From mid July to the end of August is the museum's peak period to receive tourists. The daily influx can be up to 70,000 -- more than double its ideal capacity of 30-thousand.

The daily influx on October 4th last year amounted to 142-thousand, creating the all time record. The staggering number is way more than the historical icon can afford.

That's why an enlargement project is being undertaken in the museum. The five-year plan will increase accessible areas from the current 45 percent to 76 percent. The complex includes 9000 halls or buildings, but the opened ones are mainly located along the central axis of the complex, with many halls and courtyards in the east and west sides having remained off limits to the public.

Shan Jixiang, director of Palace Museum, said, "Sites like Cining Park, and Cining Palace (Palace of Benevolent Tranquillity), will be renovated and open to the public. We also plan to build a service center, providing a resting place for visitors."

The museum's administrative offices will all move out in five years time, giving way to more public spaces. Meanwhile, the stalls near the Duan Men gate, which clash with the sombre layout of the museum have been cleared away, to become a service center for tourists by year's end.